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 Replies: 12 / Views: 1,332 |
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Valued Member
Australia
338 Posts |
Hi Guys, I'm currently in the process of cleaning a bulk lot of uncleaned ancients (mainly for interest and using DI water). I'm a relative newbie to ancients so my identification skills are lacking! Two of the coins have cleaned up quite nicely in the first two days:   I've done some initial research on the coins both coins I've been trying to find but the coin with the spear over the shoulder I cant seem to find anything similar (besides Probus?. I was wondering what are the keys to look for in the case where the emperor is not immediately identifiable by name? A matter of matching designs? Any help would be great! Edited by OneDollarMule
01/10/2014 09:42 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
582 Posts |
the one on the right is Licinius II.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3444 Posts |
Definitely Licinius on the right. Unusual portrait style too. He usually has a very different type without the helmet. Probably (I am guessing) from the time of one of his 'spats' with his brother inlaw which is the other guy shown .... Constantine the Great. Licinius ended up on the short end and brother inlaw schmother inlaw got a 'free haircut' in the end.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
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Valued Member
 Australia
338 Posts |
Oh great! Really interesting, I'll be able to post some pics of the other coins in the lot as they clean up! I have no intention of selling these coins but how would they grade/price?
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
 to ancient coin collecting Check out the sticky section on Books, downloads and websites there is tons of excellent information that will help with your collecting. |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
VCOINS is an excellent site to get a good idea where current market values are for ancient coins.
At any given time there is about $30 million worth of ancient coins available for sale, from dealers around the World.
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Valued Member
Australia
338 Posts |
Thanks for the help! VCoins was very helpful in identifying the Licinius coin specifically!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4973 Posts |
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Moderator
Australia
16862 Posts |
Quote:
I was wondering what are the keys to look for in the case where the emperor is not immediately identifiable by name? A matter of matching designs? Though Wildwinds has already been mentioned, one aspect that is very helpful in identifying coins with only a few legible letters left on them: the partial inscription search feature. Simply type in the letters you can read and it tries its best to find matches for your coin. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Moderator
United States
16679 Posts |
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Valued Member
Australia
338 Posts |
Thanks for all the help! I've been using the partial identifier it's extremely useful. In terms of the small batch I purchased, this coin represents the upper-end of the grade: (Constantine I?) Out of curiosity, how would this coin be regarded in terms of ancient grading?   This one is a bit of an enigma to me (I'm sure its bleeding obvious to everyone else  )   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3444 Posts |
First one reads CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG ...... That's the big guy alright. Reverse is the standard GLORIA EXERCITVS but the mint does not seem to be legible.
Second one looks like a "Constantinopolis" type with the New Capital personified. This is not really my area. Ben I am quite sure will give you all the details down to the RIC numbers !
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Replies: 12 / Views: 1,332 |
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Posted 01/10/2014 10:11 am
